Packers vs. Vikings: Five key matchups
Packers.com's Mike Spofford identifies five key matchups in Sunday's Packers-Vikings game.
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- Clay Matthews vs. Adrian Peterson – Matthews is often the centerpiece of the Packers' defensive game plans, which means he's going to be right in the middle of the run defense's task of containing Peterson. The Vikings' dominant back leads the NFL in rushing with 961 yards, and no one else in the league has even 750.
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- Damarious Randall vs. Stefon Diggs – These are two rookies making huge impacts for their teams. Randall got his share of snaps last week vs. Detroit's Calvin Johnson and nearly snagged his third interception in as many games. Upon being inserted into the lineup in Week 4, Diggs quickly became Minnesota's leading receiver (30 catches, 507 yards, two TDs).
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- Aaron Rodgers vs. Mike Zimmer – Zimmer's defenses feature multiple fronts and rush combinations, and they gave Rodgers trouble in two Bengals' victories in 2009 and 2013, when Zimmer was Cincinnati's defensive coordinator. Last year's visit to Minneapolis was no picnic, either. As Rodgers looks to get back to his high standard of play, he'll have to do it against one of the league's foremost defensive architects.
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- Chris Banjo vs. Cordarrelle Patterson – Banjo here represents the Packers' entire kickoff coverage unit, which had its first major breakdown last week in allowing Detroit's Ameer Abdullah to run the second-half kickoff back 104 yards to the Green Bay 1-yard line. Patterson ran one back 93 yards for a TD in Oakland last week, and he took one to the house against the Packers as a rookie back in 2013.
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- Josh Sitton vs. Linval Joseph – The Packers' veteran left guard is plenty familiar with the run-stuffing Joseph, who looks "leaner" and more explosive on film this year. "I think he's probably having his best year," Sitton said. "We saw him in New York a few times, and then Minnesota last year. He's quicker. Good player." Sitton, right guard T.J. Lang and center Corey Linsley should all get their share of snaps dealing with Joseph.
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